- For applying for work permits and foreign permanent residency (Chinese Green Card) in China
- Immigration to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries
U.S. Criminal Record Check Services
U.S. FBI Criminal Record Certificate | Solutions for Cross-Border Visa, Immigration, Residency, and Employment Background Verification
If you have resided in the United States, foreign agencies, domestic immigration authorities, and immigration bureaus will mandatorily require a U.S. official criminal record certificate when handling cross-border matters.
What Is a U.S. Criminal Record Certificate?
It is an official personal background verification document issued by U.S. authorities, used in cross-border scenarios to prove that the applicant has no criminal record within the United States.
FBI Federal Criminal Record Check: Retrieves records from the nationwide federal database, covering criminal records across the entire United States. Suitable for the vast majority of cross-border scenarios, including immigration, Chinese permanent residency, foreign work permits, overseas study, and intercountry adoption.
State-Level Criminal Record Check: Only queries local records of the corresponding state/county. Applicable only to certain simple scenarios that require local records only.
Applicable to high-frequency scenarios
- Overseas study, intercountry adoption, overseas public office / sensitive position job applications
- Domestic handling of foreign-related notarization and exit-entry procedures
Background checks for overseas assignments by certain enterprises
Why Is a U.S. Criminal Record Certificate Needed?
Mandatory requirement by immigration authorities
If you have resided in the United States, foreign agencies, domestic immigration authorities, and immigration bureaus will mandatorily require a U.S. official criminal record certificate when handling cross-border matters. Common needs include:
Employment and residency needs for coming to China
Overseas immigration application needs
Study abroad / intercountry adoption needs
Foreign-related notarization material needs
A domestic criminal record certificate alone cannot substitute for a U.S. criminal record certificate. If you have a history of residing in the United States, you must separately apply for a U.S. official record.
Common Applicant Groups for U.S. Criminal Record Certificates:
Foreign nationals who have previously resided in the United States
- U.S. citizens
- Chinese Americans
- Returning to China to apply for a work visa
U.S. citizens and Chinese Americans returning to China to apply for a work visa or Chinese permanent residency need an FBI criminal record certificate.
Chinese citizens (with U.S. residency history)
- U.S. study abroad
- Working
- Living
Those who have studied, worked, or lived in the United States for more than 6 months and are applying for immigration to another country need to submit a U.S. criminal record certificate.
Individuals handling cross-border matters
- Intercountry adoption
- Overseas job applications
- Overseas assignments
Intercountry adoption, overseas job applications, and overseas assignments require complete background check documents.
What Is the Difference Between an FBI Federal Criminal Record Check and a U.S. State-Level Criminal Record Check?
| Comparison dimension | U.S. State/Local Criminal Record Check | FBI Federal Criminal Record Check |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing authority | State Police / County Sheriff's Office | Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) |
| Search scope | Limited to local records of that state/county | Nationwide federal database, covering all records within the United States |
| Core use case | For simple local background verification only | For immigration, Chinese permanent residency, work permits, intercountry adoption (the vast majority of official scenarios) |
| Application eligibility | Requires a residential record in that state | No residential restriction; can be processed even while in China |
| Authentication suitability | State Government Apostille | U.S. Department of State Apostille |
| supporting documentation | State Police Application + Secretary of State Apostille | FD-258 Fingerprint Card, FBI Application, U.S. Department of State Apostille |
Complete Process for Obtaining an FBI Criminal Record Certificate
Six major steps for full processing, with end-to-end agency service available:
01
Preliminary document assessment
Verify the applicant's identity and periods of residence in the United States, confirm eligibility, and compile the list of required documents.
02
Fingerprint collection (FD-258 fingerprint card)
FD-258 ten-fingerprint card as officially required by the FBI. Fingerprints must be collected by a professional agency. Fingerprint collection can be completed within China.
03
Submit the Official FBI Application
Complete Form I-783, submit the fingerprint card, and file a background check application with the FBI.
04
Obtain the Original FBI Criminal Record Certificate
The FBI completes the database search and issues the official criminal record certificate.
05
Obtain the U.S. Department of State Apostille
If the document is to be used in China or other Hague Convention member countries, an Apostille is required to certify the document's official authenticity.
06
Translation, archiving, and document delivery
Chinese translation, compilation of the full set of documents, and delivery to the client for visa, immigration, and residency applications.
U.S. Criminal Record Check Services
Facilitating cross-border background documentation
Our Service Model: More Than Just Application Processing — Full-Process Compliant Handling, One-Stop Solution for FBI Criminal Record Certificate + Apostille.
Kuaiqiwu has 16 years of in-depth experience in criminal record check applications, with over 2,600 completed cases:
- Free Preliminary Assessment: Determine whether you need the FBI version, confirm the applicable scenario, and inform you of the required documents.
- Full Document Processing: Fingerprint guidance, application form completion, official FBI submission, and obtaining the original official certificate.
- One-Stop Apostille Service: U.S. Department of State Apostille. The document can be used directly in mainland China without consular legalization by the Chinese consulate.
- Supporting Chinese translation: provide formal Chinese translations suitable for domestic exit-entry authorities, notary offices, and immigration bureaus.
- Document archiving and organization: compile the full set of originals + authenticated copies + translations for convenient direct submission to official institutions.
- After-sales support: assist in explaining document usage rules and responding to inquiries from official institutions.
Common application scenarios
Foreign nationals coming to China for work/permanent residency
- U.S. citizens coming to China to apply for a work permit or Chinese permanent residency: Obtain an FBI criminal record certificate + Apostille to meet the document requirements of the Exit and Entry Administration.
Individuals with U.S. Residency History Immigrating Overseas
- Those who have previously studied or worked in the United States and are applying for immigration to Canada, Australia, or New Zealand: Obtain an FBI criminal record certificate to meet the immigration bureau's background check requirements.
Intercountry adoption and overseas employment
- Intercountry adoption and applications for sensitive overseas positions: Provide an FBI criminal record certificate to complete official background verification.
Why Choose Kuaiqiwu?
Global Perspective · Business Understanding · Comprehensive Service Capability
Deeply experienced in foreign-related document and notarization/authentication services. Familiar with U.S. FBI application rules and Apostille procedures. Has handled a large volume of individual cross-border background document cases.
Our Advantages
16 years of accumulated experience in enterprise services
Familiar with FBI application rules and aware of the official requirements of various countries for criminal record documents.
Familiar with usage requirements of various countries
Clear understanding of the standards of domestic exit-entry authorities and overseas immigration bureaus for documents, avoiding document rejection.
Professional solution planning
Based on your purpose, determine whether the state-level or FBI version is required to avoid obtaining the wrong document.
Full-process service support
One-stop service for document guidance, fingerprinting, submission, collection, apostille, and translation.
transparent fee structure
Transparent pricing with no hidden charges.
Kuaiqiwu, Building a Global Enterprise Service System
From corporate establishment to long-term operations, we provide full lifecycle enterprise services.
Going global is not just about completing a single business transaction; it requires continuous, stable, and compliant global operational support.
Kuaiqiwu caters to enterprises’ global development needs and builds a corporate service system covering the entire process of incorporation, operation and expansion:
Global company registration
Global offshore and onshore company formation, establishing a solid foundation for global business expansion.
International Notarization and Certification
Hague Apostille and consular legalization of foreign-related documents, granting legal validity to cross-border business documents.
Opening a global bank account
Global commercial bank account opening, thoroughly resolving bottlenecks in capital outbound flows and global settlements.
Overseas investment
Compliance filing for Outbound Direct Investment (ODI), safeguarding the secure and compliant outbound flow of domestic capital.
Tax and Financial Compliance
Global tax and financial compliance and cross-border tax advisory, building a robust risk control defense for overseas operations.
Comprehensive Global Expansion Services for Enterprises
One-stop comprehensive overseas expansion support covering global intellectual property, overseas statutory secretarial services, offshore notarization, and compliance maintenance.
Kuaiqiwu is not merely a provider of corporate commercial services, but also a long-term partner for enterprises in their global development. From the first step of international expansion to continuous growth of global business, Kuaiqiwu always accompanies enterprises to move forward steadily.
Start your U.S. criminal record consultation now
Kuaiqiwu provides comprehensive corporate services covering incorporation, investment and operation.
Submit your personal information, and we will provide you with:
Preliminary assessment of your personal situation
Recommended processing plan
Applicability assessment
Professional consultant consultation
Follow-up service planning
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for a U.S. FBI criminal record while in mainland China?
Yes. You do not need to be in the United States. You only need to complete FD-258 standard fingerprint collection. Fingerprints can be collected in China, and we will handle the submission of the application to the FBI on your behalf.
Can a U.S. state-level criminal record replace an FBI federal record?
In most official scenarios (Chinese green card, immigration), no. State-level records only check a single state's files, while the FBI checks the nationwide federal database; immigration authorities and border agencies preferentially recognize the FBI version.
How long is an FBI criminal record valid?
The document itself has no fixed validity period; however, immigration authorities and border agencies generally require a record issued within 6 months. It is recommended to plan your application according to your submission timeline.
I only traveled to the United States for a short trip. Do I need a U.S. criminal record?
Generally no. The vast majority of institutions require a U.S. criminal record only if you have **actually resided in the United States for more than 6 months**; short-term tourism and transit do not require it.
I already have a U.S. state-level criminal record. Can I still apply for an FBI federal record afterward?
Yes, the two do not conflict with each other. If the official requirement is the FBI version, you will need to complete the full FBI process again.